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The Chorus at 75 with Eric Whitacre OCTOBER 24, 2026
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THIS WEEK ’S PROGRAM
The Chorus at 75 with Eric Whitacre Lisa Wong, conductor | Eric Whitacre, conductor PRO GR AM NOTE S:
Fern Hill by John Corigliano • PAGE 8 Eternity in an Hour by Eric Whitacre • PAGE 10 The Sung Texts • PAGE 12 PAG E 21
CON D UC TOR B IOG R APH IE S PAG E 2 9
TCO SP OTLIG H T Lisa Wong on the Chorus’s diamond anniversary PAG E 33
TH E C HORU S AT 75: A HIS TORY OF EXC ELLE NCE Discover the colorful origins of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus PAG E 4 4
TH A N K YOU COVER: PHOTO BY JULIAN DUBÉ
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FRO M THE PRESID E N T & C EO I am delighted to welcome you to tonight’s concert celebrating a very special milestone: 75 years of music-making by The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. From the moment I started working here, it quickly became apparent that the exceptional qualities of The Cleveland Orchestra shared a formidable partner in the talent, flexibility, and commitment of our Chorus. The ensemble has grown in these qualities and more, especially in the past 10 years under Lisa Wong’s direction. Our singers are a regular fixture throughout the season — in classical programs, Holiday Concerts, opera presentations, audio recordings, and Adella productions — and devote thousands of volunteer hours each year to honing and sharing their craft, both here in Cleveland and beyond. These sentiments are regularly echoed by Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Möst. In a pre-concert conversation with me last year, Franz expressed the following: Our Chorus, under Lisa’s leadership, has become really extraordinary. Their dedication is remarkable, and I am always impressed by how responsive they are when I work with them. And Lisa is really one of the best chorus directors I’ve encountered. She has humility, yet an enormous inner strength, challenging them to perform at the highest level. Since I appointed her, she has transformed this all-volunteer group into a chorus that consistently meets professional standards. This evening, the Chorus is joined by members of The Cleveland Orchestra and award-winning composer Eric Whitacre, who will conduct the US premiere of his new work, Eternity in an Hour. I encourage you to read through this program, which not only features information on the music, but an account of the Chorus’s 75-year history and reminiscences from Lisa and Chorus members, both past and present. The concert is also being broadcast live on Adella, the Orchestra’s digital home, where you’ll be able to revisit the performance on-demand afterward. Tonight’s program is a celebration of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. We are proud to honor them and the gifts they bring to both the Cleveland Orchestra family and the wider Cleveland community.
PHOTO BY ROGER MASTROIANNI
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T WE N T Y-FIV E YEARS
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TH E MUS IC
Thank you for silencing your electronic devices.
The Chorus at 75 with Eric Whitacre Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 7:30 PM
John Corigliano (b. 1938)
Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)
PHOTO OF ERIC WHITACRE BY YEVHEN GULENKO
This performance will be livestreamed on Adella.live and available to watch on demand for 14 days.
Support for The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus is provided by The Shari Bierman Singer Family, Charles M. Hoppel & Marianne Karwowski Hoppel, and the Wesley Family Foundation. clevelandorchestra.com
Fern Hill
15 minutes
Lisa Wong, conductor The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus Stephanie Popik, soprano Elizabeth Fayette*, Genevieve Smelser*, Jason Yu* & Dustin Wilkes-Kim*, violins William Bender* & Joanna Patterson Zakany, violas Mark Kosower* & Dane Johansen*, cellos Maximilian Dimoff*, bass Daniel Overly, piano Jody Guinn, harp I N TERM IS SI ON
20 minutes
Eternity in an Hour
60 minutes
I. To see a World II. In a Grain of Sand III. And a Heaven IV. In a Wild Flower V. Hold Infinity VI. In the palm of your hand VII. And Eternity VIII. In an hour Eric Whitacre, conductor and synthesizers The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus Mark Kosower*, cello Marc Damoulakis*, percussion Daniel Overly, piano US Premiere; Co-commissioned by The Cleveland Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
*Member of The Cleveland Orchestra This program will last approximately 1 hour 35 minutes
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THE MUSI C
Fern Hill by John Corigliano BORN : February 16, 1938, in New York City
▶ COMPOSED: 1960 (in two versions, for full orchestra and for harp, piano, and strings) ▶ WORLD PREMIERE : The version for harp, piano, and strings premiered on December 19, 1961, with Hugh Ross conducting the Manhattan School of Music Orchestra and Chorus. ▶ This concert marks The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus’s first performance of John Corigliano’s Fern Hill. ▶ ORCHESTRATION : chorus, solo mezzo-soprano (or soprano), strings, piano, and harp ▶ DURATION : about 15 minutes See page 12 for the sung texts.
I FIRST ENCOUNTERED Dylan Thomas’s work in 1959, my last undergraduate year at Columbia College. It was a revelation. Both the sound and structures of Thomas’s words were astonishingly musical. Not by accident, either: “What the words meant was of secondary importance; what matters was the sound of them … these words were as the notes of bells, the sounds of musical instruments,” he wrote in his Poetic Manifesto of 1951. I was irresistibly drawn to translate his music into mine. One poem captivated me: “Fern Hill,” about the poet’s “young and easy” summers at his family’s farm of the same name. I wanted to write this work as a gift for my high school music teacher, Mrs. Bella Tillis, who first encouraged my musical ambitions. She introduced “Fern Hill” with piano accompanying her (and, once, my) school choir. “Fern Hill” is a blithe poem, yet touched by darkness; time finally holds the poet “green and dying,” but the poem itself, formally just an A–B–A song extended into a wide arch, sings joyously of youth and its keen perceptions. I set it for mezzosoprano solo, chorus, and orchestra, aiming to match the forthright lyricism of the text. (The direction “with simplicity” is everywhere in the printed score.) — John Corigliano
John Corigliano is one of America’s preeminent composers. Over his 60+ year career, he has composed two operas, three symphonies, three film scores, and multiples concertos, chamber works, and vocal pieces.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN CORIGLIANO
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THE MUSI C
Eternity in an Hour by Eric Whitacre BORN : January 2, 1970, in Reno
▶ COMPOSED: 2024 ▶ WORLD PREMIERE : September 4, 2024, with the composer leading the BBC Singers and the 12 Ensemble ▶ This concert marks the first Cleveland Orchestra Chorus performance and the US premiere of Eric Whitacre’s Eternity in an Hour, which was co-commissioned by The Cleveland Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. ▶ ORCHESTRATION : percussion (crotales, finger cymbals), piano, cello, synthesizers, and chorus ▶ DURATION : about 60 minutes See page 14 for the sung texts.
FOR YEARS AND YEARS , I’ve been transfixed by [William Blake’s] text: what I felt I was seeing in the music beneath Blake’s words was a kind of longing for the present. It’s almost a road map that he created for how to be truly in the moment. And it starts with that opening line: “To see a World in a Grain of Sand.” Blake, in his ever-mystical way, invites the reader to enter into the infinite world of a grain of sand. Even there, in the smallest, most insignificant thing, lies our entire experience. This displays a deep understanding of the dense, fractal, ephemeral world that exists at every level of our known universe. I decided to take those four lines and then see if I could create an hour-long piece that was, in a way, a journey deeper and deeper into that grain of sand. And hopefully find at the end of it that there is an essential magnificence that is as grand and beautiful as anything large or seemingly phenomenal. Even in the simple, there is perfection. — Eric Whitacre
Composer-conductor Eric Whitacre has found cross-genre success through a wide range of projects in both the orchestral and choral realms. Namely, his Virtual Choirs have brought together over 35,000 singers from 145 countries.
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PHOTO BY YEVHEN GULENKO
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THE SU NG TE XTS
Fern Hill by John Corigliano Text by Dylan Thomas CHORUS
Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green, The night above the dingle starry, Time let me hail and climb Golden in the heydays of his eyes, And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves Trail with daisies and barley Down the rivers of the windfall light. CHORUS & S OLO Q UARTE T
And as I was green and carefree, famous among the barns About the happy yard and singing as the farm was home, In the sun that is young once only, Time let me play and be Golden in the mercy of his means, And green and golden I was huntsman and herdsman, the calves Sang to my horn, the foxes on the hills barked clear and cold, And the sabbath rang slowly In the pebbles of the holy streams. S OPR AN O
All the sun long it was running, it was lovely, the hay Fields high as the house, the tunes from the chimneys, it was air And playing, lovely and watery And fire green as grass. And nightly under the simple stars As I rode to sleep the owls were bearing the farm away, All the moon long I heard, blessed among stables, the nightjars Flying with the ricks, and the horses Flashing into the dark.
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S OPR AN O & CHORUS
And then to awake, and the farm, like a wanderer white With the dew, come back, the cock on his shoulder: it was all Shining, it was Adam and maiden, The sky gathered again And the sun grew round that very day. So it must have been after the birth of the simple light In the first, spinning place, the spellbound horses walking warm Out of the whinnying green stable On to the fields of praise. CHORUS
And honoured among foxes and pheasants by the gay house Under the new made clouds and happy as the heart was long, In the sun born over and over, I ran my heedless ways, My wishes raced through the house high hay And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, that time allows In all his tuneful turning so few and such morning songs Before the children green and golden Follow him out of grace, CHORUS & S OLO Q UARTE T
Nothing I cared, in the lamb white days, that time would take me Up to the swallow thronged loft by the shadow of my hand, In the moon that is always rising, Nor that riding to sleep I should hear him fly with the high fields And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land. Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means, Time held me green and dying Though I sang in my chains like the sea.
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THE SU NG TE XTS
Eternity in an Hour by Eric Whitacre Text by William Blake I. To see a World To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour. II. In a Grain of Sand In a Grain of Sand III. And a Heaven And a Heaven IV. In a Wild Flower In a Wild Flower V. Hold Infinity Hold Infinity VI. In the palm of your hand In the palm of your hand VII. And Eternity [Wordless] VIII. In an hour To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.
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HONORI NG
Franz Welser-Möst & the Chorus During his tenure as Music Director, Franz has been a champion for The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, featuring the ensemble in programs at home and on tour. We invite you to celebrate the Chorus — and Franz’s 25th and final season — with your gift to the Franz Welser-Möst Legacy Fund today. Your gift will directly support opera and vocal programs here at the Orchestra. For more voices, more music, and more joy.
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THE CON DUC TOR
Lisa Wong, Director of Choruses
PHOTO BY ROGER MASTROIANNI
FRANCES P. AND CHESTER C. BOLTON CHAIR
at The College of Wooster. As director of the award-winning Wooster Chorus, she elevated the ensemble to national prominence through annual tours, performances at state and regional conferences, and the premieres of 15 new works. Her expertise in music education is informed by 32 years of classroom experience and extensive work as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor. Wong has served numerous times as a grant panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and Chorus America and presented at state and national conferences on varied topics. She is presidentelect of the Ohio Choral Directors LISA WONG, A DISTINGUISHED CHORAL Association and served as the Repertoire CONDUCTOR AND EDUCATOR , serves as and Resource Chair for World Music Director of Choruses for The Cleveland and Cultures and on the Committee Orchestra, where she has prepared The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Blossom for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Ohio Music Education Association. Festival Chorus for acclaimed perforWith degrees from West Chester mances under conductors Franz WelserUniversity and the Indiana University Möst, Klaus Mäkelä, John Adams, Jacobs School of Music, Wong’s academic Jane Glover, Susanna Mälkki, Eric Whitacre, and many others. In 2026, she foundation is complemented by a rich founded and led the inaugural Cleveland career dedicated to inspiring and nurturing musicians of all ages. Her contributions Orchestra Summer Choral Institute, to both the professional and academic welcoming music students from across the nation and abroad to Severance Music spheres have significantly impacted the choral landscape. Center. In addition, she has prepared the Tanglewood Festival Chorus for performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and conductors Herbert Blomstedt and Andris Nelsons. Wong served for 16 years as the Olive See also page 29 for an interview with Williams Kettering Professor of Music Lisa Wong about tonight’s concert. clevelandorchestra.com
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THE CON DUC TOR
PHOTO BY MARC ROYCE
Eric Whitacre to be a Yamaha artist. While living in California, Whitacre served consecutive terms as artist in residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. His newest work, Eternity in an Hour, was recently released on Decca Classics, having premiered at the BBC Proms in 2024. In 2025, The Pacific Has No Memory, commissioned by violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, received its premiere with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. A widely respected conductor, Whitacre has worked with the world’s leading choirs and orchestras, including the Minnesota Orchestra, London SymGRAMMY AWARD–WINNING COMPOSER phony Orchestra, and Royal Philharmonic and conductor Eric Whitacre is Orchestra. In 2024, he conducted the among today’s most popular musicians. Louisville Orchestra in a program of his A graduate of The Juilliard School, his music paired with Mozart’s Requiem. works are performed worldwide and his His collaboration with Spitfire Audio ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have resulted in two volumes of a trailblazing united well over 100,000 singers from vocal sample library which became an more than 145 countries. Among his instant bestseller and is used by composrecent accolades and awards, Whitacre ers the world over. received the Richard D. Colburn Award A charismatic speaker, Whitacre has from the Colburn School and an given keynote addresses for Fortune 500 Honorary Doctor of Arts from Chapman companies, educational institutions, and University. His long-term relationship with Decca Classics has produced several global organizations, including Apple, No. 1 albums which have enduring success. Google, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and the United Nations Speaker’s Whitacre is currently musician in Program. His mainstage talks at the residence at Somerville College, Oxford influential TED conference in Long University, having recently completed Beach received standing ovations. He a residency as visiting composer at Pembroke College, Cambridge University. premiered a new version of Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of our Universe He is also an ambassador for the Royal College of Music in London and is proud at SXSW Austin in 2026. clevelandorchestra.com
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THE CLEV EL AN D ORC HESTR A C HO RUS
The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus Now in its 75th season, The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus is celebrated for its versatility and refined musicianship, appearing regularly with The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance and Blossom music centers. As one of the few all-volunteer, professionally trained choruses affiliated with a major American orchestra, it received the 2019 – 20 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing extraordinary service to the Orchestra. Visit cochorus.com for more information on the Chorus and auditions. SOPRANOS
Katie Holbert
Stephanie Popik
Debbie Bates ♦
Claudia Barriga ♦
Lisa Hrusovsky ♦♦♦
Grace Prentice
Riley Beistel
Jesse Bobbitt
Rachel Imhoff
Leah Puorro
Kristina Bodnar
Emily Carlson
Shannon R. Jakubczak ♦
Jylian Purtee
Carla Cashman
Signe Carlson
Sarah Jones-Gould ♦♦
Lisa M. Ramsey
Barbara J. Clugh ♦
Ruby Chen ♦
Katie Kitchen
Mandi Rice
Amber Dimoff
Caitlin DiFranco
Hope Klassen-Kay ♦♦
Emma Russell
Shannon Dunning *
Maryssa Duncan
Brianna Knapp
Ellie Kleber Smith
Brooke Emmel
Emily Engle ♦
EvaCecilia Koh
Emma Stamper
Colleen Endrizzi
Molly Falasco
Alannah Lopez
Megan Tettau
Hope Ezell
Lisa Fedorovich ♦
Kate Macy ♦♦♦
Meagan Ulery
Shawna Hill
Brianna Gibson
Sophia Marshall
Sharilee Walker ♦♦
Karen S. Hunt ♦♦
Jennifer Gilles
Gracie Mino
Chelsey Webb
Sarah Hutchins ♦
Julia Halamek
Julie Myers-Pruchenski ♦
Rebecca S. Hall ♦♦
Jennifer Heinert O’Leary ♦♦
Sarah Henley ♦
Victoria Peacock
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Emily Austin ♦♦♦ Amy Foster Babinski ♦
Maggie Keverline Rebecca King Elise Leitzel
PHOTO BY JULIAN DUBE
Sarah Peterson
Lizzie Kaboski
ALTOS
Victoria Marquard-Schultz
Michael Heid
Manzili Denis
Martin Young
Danielle S. McDonald ♦
Daniel M. Katz ♦♦♦
Christopher Dewald ♦
Philip Zielinski
Karla McMullen ♦
Adam Kilo
Davis Fischer *
Paul Zito
Brianna Mosley
Peter Kvidera ♦♦
Thomas Flowers
Shanely Niemi
Adam Landry
Andrew Fowler
Laura Obergefell
Gabriel Lawrence
Jeffrey D. Gershman
Dawn Ostrowski ♦
Lorenzo Lopez
Richard Hall
Ina Stanek-Michaelis ♦♦♦
David McCallum ♦
Kurtis B. Hoffman ♦♦
Melanie Tabak
Matt Rizer ♦♦
Kim Jacoby
Rachel Thibo ♦
Ted Rodenborn ♦
James Johnston
Kristen Tobey
Jacob Rumelfanger
Jason Levy ♦♦
Laure Wasserbauer ♦♦♦
Nathan A. Russell
Tyler Mason ♦
Haley Wheeler
Lee Scantlebury ♦♦
Glenn Obergefell
Maggie Fairman Williams
Greg Smith
John Philipps
Leah Wilson ♦
Andrew Stamp
Trevor Pollack
Caroline Willoughby
J.R. Tomkinson
Francisco Prado ♦
Jennifer R. Woda
Yung Wang *
Brandon Randall
Debra Yasinow ♦♦♦ Lynne Leutenberg Yulish ♦
Robert Seaman ♦
BASSES
Gavin Slate
Lucas Buhrman *
Alexander Truver
TENORS
Nicholas Campagna
Matt Turell Nicolas Turnberrez
Christian Bush
Eric Coffelt
Rong Chen
Nick Connavino ♦
David Erlandson
Ronnie Dailey
* Shari Bierman Singer Fellow
Service Recognition ♦ 10 – 19 years of service ♦♦ 20 – 29 years of service ♦♦♦ 30 + years of service
Daniel J. Singer Assistant Director Daniel Overly Collaborative Pianist Jill Harbaugh Director of Choral Operations Victoria Peacock Chorus Coordinator Sarah Hutchins Chair, Operating Committee
Bob Winters Ryan Yonek
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Lisa Wong ON THE CHORUS AT 75 SINCE TAKING THE HELM IN 2018 , Lisa Wong has maintained The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus’s status as a formidable supporting ensemble for The Cleveland Orchestra. We recently sat down with her to reflect on the Chorus, its 75th-anniversary program, and its future.
TCO: How has the Chorus evolved
since its founding, and, more specifically, how have you seen it evolve in your time as Director?
PHOTO BY YEVHEN GULENKO
LISA WONG: It’s probably easier, in fact, to talk about some things that haven’t changed. What remains the same is the unwavering commitment to excellence and singing at the very highest level. Our Chorus members are incredibly dedicated, and I think that has really remained the same in the ensemble’s 75 years. In terms of what has changed, I think the role of the Chorus is expanding. There are seemingly more guest conductors who come in wanting to do a major choral project with us, which is great. We’re also increasingly involved in opera productions, part of more recording projects, and have been doing a lot of contemporary music in recent years. So, there are lots of things that have remained the same, while lots of other things are expanding and going in new directions. Lisa Wong has been involved with The Cleveland Orchestra Choruses in various capacities since 2010. In 2018, she was named the seventh Director of Choruses.
clevelandorchestra.com
What is your favorite aspect of directing the Chorus? It’s so hard to choose just one. I love the people — working with the incredible Chorus members, my colleagues, and our staff — it’s a terrific team. But I also love that I work in a place where the chorus is truly valued and appreciated. That’s not the norm in every place, but everyone here — from the Orchestra musicians to our Music Director Franz Welser-Möst — has a true appreciation for and greatly values our Chorus, the time that they put in, and their artistry.
I love that I work in a place where the chorus is truly valued and appreciated. What led you to curate this specific program for the Chorus’s 75th anniversary? What connects these two works? We had the opportunity to work with Eric Whitacre three years ago when he was here to direct his piece, The Sacred Veil, as part of a week-long residency. | 29
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It was such a successful week in so many ways, and such a moving experience for our singers. So, when Eric asked us shortly after if we would be interested in being part of his next large-scale work, Eternity in an Hour, we immediately said yes. As we learned more about this new work, we discovered that Eric was setting a text by William Blake. It’s just four lines of text that he has fragmented and stretched to create a piece that lasts about an hour. The words are a reflection on time and beauty, so that seemed just perfect to mark the passing of time for the Chorus’s 75 years. For the first part of the program, we’ve paired this with John Corigliano’s Fern Hill, which uses a text by Dylan Thomas that also considers the passing of time. It also just so happens that Corigliano was Eric’s composition teacher at Juilliard, so I think it’s a really nice pairing and a snapshot of American choral music from two very different composers. What do you hope this program will share with the audience? Eric has so brilliantly set up a space for reflection. The piece involves chorus, piano, cello, percussion, and, interestingly, electronics. Eric has this huge setup of synthesizers and electronically processes the music in real time, which creates this really fascinating sound. Both pieces in combination create an opportunity to slow down. We’re so busy today — our attention spans are shrinking and it’s hard to find time to just focus 30 | 2026/2027 SEASON
Eric Whitacre and Lisa Wong backstage at Severance before the Chorus’s performance of The Sacred Veil in October 2023.
and reflect. I think, more than anything, this program allows us that time, so I hope the audience will allow themselves to enter this concert with that in mind. What is something you would tell a Chorus member 75 years from now? I would want them to know what a special world they are about to enter. I feel so incredibly privileged every time I step in front of this group, every time I walk out onto this stage, and I often think about all the people who have come before me. That reminds me of a moment this summer: We were working on Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms and a Chorus member said to me, “I first performed this piece 61 years ago.” And I said, “Wow, that’s incredible. Do you remember who conducted?” And he said, “Yes, it was Stravinsky!” And that’s just one of many, many stories. So, I would say to future Chorus members: You’re joining an incredible legacy filled with really special people, and now you’re one of them. Scan the QR code to read an extended version of this conversation on the Orchestra’s Content Hub.
NOV 9
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth & Children’s Choruses Fall Concert APR 4
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus Honor Choir Concert APR 16
The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Choruses Spring Concert
Visit clevelandorchestra.com for tickets and more information.
THE CH O RUS AT 75: A H ISTO RY
THE CHORUS AT 75
A History of Excellence NOW IN ITS 75TH SEASON , The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus stands out as
one of the few all-volunteer, professionally trained choruses affiliated with a major US orchestra. In fact, few world-class orchestras enjoy the privilege of performing with their own chorus. Many must rely on freelance singers or external ensembles for large-scale choral works, which can often prevent a sense of unified musical vision.
PHOTO BY YEVHEN GULENKO
For over seven decades, The Cleveland Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus have partnered to offer exquisite performances in a partnership that has produced thousands of concerts, dozens of recordings, and many tours around the country and the world. Almost as soon as Adella Prentiss Hughes established The Cleveland Orchestra in 1918, there was interest in forming an in-house chorus. Hoping to engage local artists, Prentiss Hughes promptly published a call for volunteer singers in a 1920 program book. Unfortunately, this group did not last and the Orchestra returned to collaborating with external choruses, including university choirs, glee clubs, and local church ensembles. In 1931, there was another attempt to establish a Cleveland Philharmonic Chorus to sing with the Orchestra. Even Eric Whitacre is one of many major figures who have guest conducted The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus during its 75-year history.
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with vocalists graciously volunteering their time, the administrative work of maintaining a chorus is formidable, so it, too, was disbanded, leaving the Orchestra to again rely on external collaborations. These repeated attempts at establishing a permanent chorus reveal a desire for unified musical expression, but it was not until the 1950s that this dream was fully realized.
The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus stands out as one of the few all-volunteer, professionally trained choruses affiliated with a major US orchestra. Szell’s Part of Music Director George Szell vision for raising the status of The Cleveland Orchestra was to bolster the Orchestra’s sound with a strong, inhouse chorus. In the fall of 1950, Szell attended a Cleveland Orchestra Trustees meeting to plead for a standing chorus, arguing that large choral works would | 33
THE C H O RUS AT 75 : A H ISTO RY
reputation was met with enthusiasm: 1,800 singers signed up for tryouts, 240 received an invitation, and the 200 singers who showed up to the first rehearsal became Shaw’s ensemble.
I want to build the best chorus in the United States. — Robert Shaw (Cleveland Orchestra Associate Conductor, 1956–67)
Shaw would write near-weekly letters to the Chorus, with quasi-sermons on the composers and pieces from the season and the incredible power of music. He envisioned the Chorus as a single organism, turning a group of passionate volunteers from all walks of life into a cohesive unit with a shared vision. It was Shaw’s assistant, Clayton Henry Krehbiel, who became the first conductor to hold the title Director of Choruses. Krehbiel’s brief tenure was followed by Margaret Hillis, a trailblazing conductor who led the Chorus during Szell’s final years. The early
Cleveland Orchestra Chorus Directors Robert Shaw (1956 – 67)
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Clayton H. Krehbiel (1967 – 69)
Margaret Hillis (1969 – 71)
L-R ,1-5: IMAGES COURTESY OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA ARCHIVES, 6-7: PHOTOS BY ROGER MASTROIANNI; RIGHT: IMAGE COURTESY OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA ARCHIVES
entice broader Cleveland audiences. The following spring, Szell conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as a trial run for a volunteer chorus and the community response was undeniable. Finally, all parties could agree that The Cleveland Orchestra needed its Chorus. In 1952, The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus came into being and, in the late spring of 1953, they sang their Severance debut in performances of Verdi’s Requiem. However, the newly minted Chorus still had no official “Director of Choruses.” In the beginning, local church musicians Russell L. Gee and Robert M. Stofer rehearsed the ensemble, assisted by Cleveland Orchestra Associate Conductor Rudolph Ringwall. In 1956, Robert Shaw replaced Ringwall as Associate Conductor and took over leadership of the Chorus. Shaw’s reputation as a choral conductor was already well-established. When Szell asked him to join the conducting staff of The Cleveland Orchestra, Shaw agreed, responding, “I want to build the best chorus in the United States.” Shaw’s
The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus has toured around the country and globe, both with the Orchestra and on their own — including performances in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. They have also joined the Orchestra in countless performances at Carnegie Hall and on three tours to South Florida. Because the Chorus is all volunteers, they cover their own travel through creative fundraising efforts. In fact, two early televised specials were so successful in fundraising that the Chorus was able to donate proceeds to the Orchestra after covering their own travel expenses.
Robert Page (1971 – 89)
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Gareth Morrell (1989 – 98)
Robert Porco (1998 – 2017)
Lisa Wong (2017 – present)
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THE C H O RUS AT 75 : A H ISTO RY
The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus has appeared on more than 40 commercial recordings with The Cleveland Orchestra. Additionally, the Chorus has created a series of heartwarming seasonal albums — featuring live recordings from The Cleveland Orchestra’s Holiday Concerts — as a fundraiser to help offset the cost of touring and operations.
Orff: Carmina Burana
Gershwin: Porgy & Bess
Debussy: La mer, Nocturnes
1976 Best Choral Performance Classical (Other Than Opera)
1977 Best Opera Recording
TWO AWARDS:
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Tristia
Best Classical Album & Best Orchestral Performance
1998 Best Orchestral Performance
directors each had a hand in creating a professional-level ensemble out of dedicated volunteers. In 1971, Robert Page took over from Hillis and ended up leading the Chorus longer than his three predecessors combined, serving alongside Music Directors Lorin Maazel and Christoph von Dohnányi. It was under Page that The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus first traveled internationally with the Orchestra, but their life on the road began much earlier. During Shaw’s tenure, the Chorus joined the Orchestra on runout performances in Ohio and on prestigious trips to New York’s Carnegie Hall. They also traveled 36 | 2026/2027 SEASON
1996
to Puerto Rico in 1962, ’63, and ’64 to sing at the prestigious Casals Festival, without the Orchestra in tow (see photo on page 35). Following Page, Gareth Morrell led the Chorus for a fruitful decade. During his tenure, the Chorus traveled to Europe to perform Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast with a combined choir under the baton of Simon Rattle, who praised the Cleveland singers as being “rich and gutsy and generous.” Robert Porco took over as Director of Choruses in 1998 and served until 2017, becoming the ensemble’s longest-serving conductor. During this time, he prepared or conducted the Choruses through 150 programs and nearly 600 performances
IMAGES COURTESY OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA ARCHVES
Five of The Cleveland Orchestra’s seven Grammy Awards recognize collaborations with the Chorus:
spanning far beyond Severance and Blossom — to Carnegie Hall, Frankfurt, Paris, Luxembourg, and beyond. Porco also brought current Director of Choruses Lisa Wong onto the conducting staff in 2010. After filling Porco’s shoes as Acting Director in 2017–18, Wong was appointed Director of Choruses in 2018 by Music Director Welser-Möst. Franz Welser-Möst
Over 3,000 singers from across Northeast Ohio have joined The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus since its founding in 1952.
PHOTO BY ROGER MASTROIANNI
Over 3,000 singers from across Northeast Ohio have joined The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus since its founding in 1952. The group has been featured on over 1,300 concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra, including 27 appearances at New York’s Carnegie Hall, along
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with tour performances in Miami and across Europe. The Chorus has been heard on radio broadcasts, television programs, and many commercial recordings with The Cleveland Orchestra. The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus’s current 135 members (see page 24) hail from 67 Northeast Ohio communities and volunteer more than 30,000 hours annually, through rehearsals and performances. In 2020, the Chorus received the Distinguished Service Award, recognizing extraordinary service to the Orchestra, and is celebrated for its versatility and refined musicianship. — adapted from an essay by Krista Mitchell Krista Mitchell was the 2022 – 23 Archives Research Fellow. The fellowship is an opportunity for PhD music students from Case Western Reserve University to work in The Cleveland Orchestra Archives. In November 2022, John Adams led The Cleveland Orchestra and soloists in performances of his Nativity oratorio, El Niño, which included the combined forces of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus.
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THE C H O RUS AT 75 : A H ISTO RY
IN THEIR OWN WORDS Current and former members of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus share thoughts and memories from their time in the Chorus. BEING IN THE Cleveland Orchestra FROM THE TIME I was admitted to the Cleveland Heights A Capella Choir in the Chorus is the light of my life. Not visible to the audience in Severance is a row 10th grade, through college choirs and of big lightbulbs that extend across the various alumni choirs, to that first ceiling, illuminating the stage. Every Monday night rehearsal on the top floor time I’ve walked out to perform, I look of Severance in 1956, I was a devoted up at those lights. Every person who choir singer and lover of classical music. has had a musical influence in my life is But on that first Monday night, singing in those lights: my grandparents, my with The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus parents, my brother, my aunt, my music under the baton of Robert Shaw, teachers. I picture them up there, with I experienced an awesome listening a perfect view of the stage. I’m forever epiphany which still sends shivers up grateful for the gift of music that they my spine 64 years later. It was the gave me. incredible sound. The chorus was 200 — Emily Austin (Member, 1994–present) voices then, and, of course, the volume created could blow you away, but the IT ’S DIFFICULT TO SUMMARIZE how much pianissimo that Shaw could achieve would weaken your knees and bring tears The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus has meant to me. I met my husband in the to your eyes. Robert Shaw had an Chorus, and the many friends and uncanny communication skill where just “family” we made provided both support a verbal expression or his nuanced during hard times and joy in good times. reaction to the sound would bring us all My favorite memory has to be when all into collective sensitivity to the sound four Mitchells (Bob, Clare, Stephen, and that he wanted. myself ) sang at Carnegie Hall in 2017. — Virginia Sords (Member, 1959–74), — Jane Timmons-Mitchell writing in 2020 before her passing (Member, 1978–89; 1998–2022) in 2022
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THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA Chorus was my life! It meant studying and performing some of the world’s best music, working with the best musicians and conductors in the world, and meeting and developing lifelong friendships. My two favorite concerts with the Orchestra and Chorus both took place at Carnegie Hall: Verdi’s Requiem with Music Director Lorin Maazel, and Mahler’s Eighth Symphony with Robert Shaw and several other choruses — the Atlantia Symphony Chorus, Oberlin Choir, Cincinnati May Festival Chorus, and Saint Thomas Boys’ Choir. — Betty Meyers (Member, 1974–2009) ON THE CHORUS’S 1989 TOUR to England and Belgium, we were boarding our flights for home. Bob [Robert] Page was already on board when Steve DiLauro loudly proclaimed his (fake) seat number, which was right next to Bob. The look on Bob’s face was hysterical, obviously imagining a seven-hour flight next to Steve! When the joke was revealed, the relief on Bob’s face was so obvious and he had a good laugh, as did the rest of us on that flight. — Lynne Hayes (Member, 1985–98)
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THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA Chorus
holds a truly special place in my heart. It is an organization that continually challenges and inspires me as a musician, fills me with an incredible sense of accomplishment, and brings me an indescribable joy that is difficult to put into words. A dear friend once told me that the Chorus is my “happy place,” and I couldn’t agree more. My very first concert with the Chorus was Mahler’s Second Symphony. Until that moment, I had never experienced anything quite so profound as a musician. Watching Franz Welser-Möst conduct — with such incredible intensity, emotion, and passion — moved me in a way I will never forget. As the final notes faded and the audience rose to give us a tremendous standing ovation, my heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude. To have been a part of such a breathtaking musical experience is something I will carry with me forever. — Jenny Gilles (Member, 2022–present) WHAT DOES The Cleveland Orchestra
Chorus mean to me? Everything. — Tremaine Oatman (Member, 1974–2026)
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MEDIA WITH FR ANZ W ELSER-MÖST & THE CLE VEL AN D O RCH ESTR A
From dazzling new works to time-tested favorites, discover the “Cleveland sound” through recordings from The Cleveland Orchestra’s own label.
C LE VEL AN D ORCHESTR A . CO M/RECO RD I NG S
S C AN FO R MO RE I N FO RMATI ON & ACC ES S TO THE RECO RD I N G S
Severance in R E C I TA L JAN 26 | TUE 7:30PM STEPHEN HOUGH
MAR 16 | TUE 7:30PM GARRICK OHLSSON
APR 20 | TUE 7:30PM NOBUYUKI TSUJII
Works by Schubert, Brahms, Schoenberg, Stockhausen, Beethoven, R. Schumann, and Sherman
Works by Chopin
Works by Grieg, Debussy, Ravel, and Kapustin
Tickets and more information at clevelandorchestra.com
26 – 27 SEAS ON
CALE N DAR FALL
NOV 27–29 TCHAIKOVSKY’S SWAN LAKE
OCT 30 & 31, NOV 1 MAHLER’S FIFTH SYMPHONY
Elim Chan, conductor Veronika Eberle, violin
Petr Popelka, conductor HAYDN Symphony No. 80 MAHLER Symphony No. 5
NOV 5, 7 & 8 BRAHMS’S REQUIEM Petr Popelka, conductor Frank Rosenwein, oboe Julia Kleiter, soprano Lucas Meachem, baritone The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK Distant Lands: Triptych for Oboe and Strings BRAHMS Ein deutsches Requiem
NOV 12, 14 & 15 ROYAL ILLUMINATIONS
GUBAIDULINA Fairytale Poem BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1 TCHAIKOVSKY Suite from Swan Lake
DEC 3–5 HADELICH PLAYS BARTÓK Alan Gilbert, conductor Augustin Hadelich, violin DALIT WARSHAW Responses BARTÓK Violin Concerto No. 2 DEBUSSY Images
WINTER
Jane Glover, conductor Julia Bullock, soprano
JAN 14 & 16 BEETHOVEN’S MISSA SOLEMNIS
HANDEL Suites Nos. 2 and 3 from Water Music BRITTEN Les Illuminations STACY GARROP Spectacle of Light HANDEL Music for the Royal Fireworks
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor Golda Schultz, soprano Taylor Raven, mezzo-soprano Julian Prégardien, tenor Anthony Schneider, bass The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
NOV 19–22 ROUVALI CONDUCTS STRAUSS Santtu-Matias Rouvali, conductor Steven Banks, saxophone BILLY CHILDS Diaspora: Concerto for Saxophone* R . STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben
* Not performed on the Friday matinee concert
BEETHOVEN Missa solemnis
JAN 15 WELSER-MÖST CONDUCTS STRAUSS Franz Welser-Möst, conductor R . STRAUSS Introduction and Finale from Daphne R . STRAUSS Metamorphosen R . STRAUSS Symphonia domestica
FEB 4–7 HOLST’S THE PLANETS Thomas Adès, conductor The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus THOMAS ADÈS Inferno Suite FRANCISCO COLL Lilith HOLST The Planets
FEB 11–14 ALL TCHAIKOVSKY Kazuki Yamada, conductor Beatrice Rana, piano TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique”
FEB 18 & 20 HUANG PLAYS BARBER Fabio Luisi, conductor Paul Huang, violin BENT SØRENSEN Evening Land BARBER Violin Concerto NIELSEN Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable”
FEB 25–27 CHO PLAYS CHOPIN Santtu-Matias Rouvali, conductor Seong-Jin Cho, piano CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 15
MAR 4–7 RACHMANINOFF’S RHAPSODY Semyon Bychkov, conductor Alexandre Kantorow, piano BRITTEN The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini ELGAR Enigma Variations
clevelandorchestra.com 42 | 2026/2027 SEASON
SPRING APR 15, 17 & 18 LIM PLAYS RACHMANINOFF Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor Yunchan Lim, piano ESA-PEKKA SALONEN NYX RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 4 BERLIOZ Suite from Roméo et Juliette
APR 22–24 ADAMS & TAO John Adams, conductor Conrad Tao, piano WEILL Suite from The Threepenny Opera COPLAND Piano Concerto HARRIS Symphony No. 3* JOHN ADAMS Slonimsky’s Earbox
APR 29, MAY 1 & 2 MAHLER’S NINTH Franz Welser-Möst, conductor MAHLER Symphony No. 9
MAY 6 & 7 STRAVINSKY & SIBELIUS Franz Welser-Möst, conductor STRAVINSKY Orpheus SIBELIUS Four Legends from the Kalevala
MAY 27 HAYDN’S CREATION Franz Welser-Möst, conductor Joélle Harvey, soprano Kai Kluge, tenor Ludwig Mittelhammer, baritone The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus HAYDN The Creation
MAY 16, 19 & 22 DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN Franz Welser-Möst, conductor Frederic Wake-Walker, director David Butt Philip, tenor (The Emperor) Sara Jakubiak, soprano (The Empress) Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzosoprano (The Nurse) Roman Burdenko, baritone (Barak) Ambur Braid, soprano (The Dyer’s Wife) The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus R . STRAUSS Die Frau ohne Schatten Opera presentation sung in German
MAY 28 STRAUSS’S ALPINE SYMPHONY
MAY 29 THE LAST WALTZ
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
A spirited concert of Viennese dances and overtures, celebrating Franz Welser-Möst and capping his 25 transformative years as Music Director of The Cleveland Orchestra.
BERND RICHARD DEUTSCH Intensity EASTMAN Symphony No. 2 R . STRAUSS An Alpine Symphony
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
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To learn more, visit clevelandorchestra.com/give Adella Prentiss Hughes Society Gifts of $1,000,000 & more Mr. & Mrs.* Geoffrey Gund Haslam 3 Foundation Anne H. & Tom H.* Jenkins The Walter and Jean Kalberer Foundation Milton & Tamar Maltz Mr. & Mrs.* Richard K. Smucker Gifts of $200,000 to $999,999 The Musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra (in-kind contribution for community programs and opportunities to secure funding) Bruce* & Eleanor Kendrick Richard & Christine Kramer Dr.* & Mrs. Anthony T. Lauria Mrs. Norma Lerner Jan R. Lewis Deborah L. Neale Mr. & Mrs. Alfred M. Rankin, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Albert B. Ratner Jenny & Tim Smucker Richard & Nancy Sneed Anonymous Gifts of $100,000 to $199,999 Mr. Yuval Brisker Rebecca Dunn Joan Alice Ford* Dr. Michael Frank & Patricia A. Snyder* Dr. Hiroyuki & Mrs. Mikiko Fujita Peter & Christina Gold (Miami) Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Horvitz Dr. & Mrs. Herbert Kloiber (Europe) Dennis & Camille LaBarre Thomas & Jessica Lauria (Miami) Nancy W. McCann Ms. Beth E. Mooney Mrs. Jane B. Nord The Oatey Foundation (Cleveland, Miami) James* & Donna Reid Saul & Mary Sanders (Miami) Jim & Myrna* Spira Ginger Warner Paul & Suzanne Westlake Tony & Diane Wynshaw-Boris Anonymous (3)
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Lillian Baldwin Society Gifts of $75,000 to $99,999 Mr. & Mrs. Alexander M. Cutler Mr.* & Mrs. Bernard H. Eckstein JoAnn & Robert Glick Michael Hudson in memory of Susan Hudson Elizabeth B. Juliano Mr. & Mrs. Douglas A. Kern Astri Seidenfeld The Seven Five Fund R. Thomas & Meg Harris Stanton Herb & Jody Wainer George Szell Society Gifts of $50,000 to $74,999 Randall & Virginia Barbato Brenda & Marshall B. Brown Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Gale Mr.* & Mrs. Robert W. Gillespie Ms. Alexandra Hanna Richard & Michelle Jeschelnig Cynthia Knight Mr. & Mrs. Ben Mathews Mr. & Mrs. Scott C. Mueller William J.* & Katherine T. O’Neill Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin N. Pyne Mrs. Alfred M. Rankin, Sr.* Ilana & Chuck Horowitz Ratner Mark & Shelly Saltzman Donna E. Shalala (Miami) Holly Strawbridge (Miami) Dr. Russell A. Trusso Mr. & Mrs. Franz Welser-Möst Barbara & David Wolfort Elisabeth DeWitt Severance Society Gifts of $25,000 to $49,999 Victor & Abby Alexander Mr. & Mrs. A. Chace Anderson Art of Beauty Company, Inc. Mel Berger & Jane Haylor Dr. & Mrs. Wolfgang Berndt (Europe) Robin Dunn Blossom Mr. Richard J. Bogomolny & Ms. Patricia M. Kozerefski Dr. Ben H. & Julia Brouhard Jeanette Grasselli Brown* & Glenn R. Brown*
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Behind every powerful performance is a community of supporters who bring the music to life. We are deeply thankful for the generosity of every member of The Cleveland Orchestra family.
Meghan & Trent Brown Dr. Robert Brown & Mrs. Janet Gans Brown Douglas M. Bunker J. C. & Helen Rankin Butler Nancy & Tim Callahan Irad & Rebecca Carmi Bill & Jennifer Clawson Ted & Donna Connolly Judith & George W. Diehl Budd & Judy Dworkin Mary Jo Eaton (Miami) Drs. Wolfgang & Gabi Eder (Europe) Richard C. & Lisa Fedorovich David & Robin Gunning Alfredo & Luz Maria Gutierrez (Miami) Sondra & Steve Hardis Iris & Tom Harvie Mrs. Lynn Heisler Amy & Stephen Hoffman David & Nancy Hooker Allan V. Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Keithley Norma Kerlin Jonathan & Tina Kislak (Miami) Eeva & Harri Kulovaara (Miami) Ms. Cathy Lincoln Jon A. & Virginia M. Lindseth, PhD* Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Malone Mr. Stephen McHale Loretta J. Mester & George J. Mailath Ann Jones Morgan Jennifer & Alexander Ogan The Honorable John Doyle Ong* Peter M. Padegimas, in memory of Beverly A. Padegimas Mr. J. William & Dr. Suzanne* Palmer Catherine & Hyun Park Douglas & Noreen Powers Mr. & Mrs. James A. Ratner James & Marguerite Rigby The Ralph and Luci Schey Foundation Mr. Eric A. Seed & Ms. Ellen Oglesby Kathryn & Duncan Stuart Dr. Elizabeth Swenson Tom & Shirley* Waltermire John & Deborah Warner Anya Weaving & Tom Mihaljevic Meredith & Michael Weil Tony & Christine White Mrs. Jayne M. Zborowsky Anonymous (2)
LISTING AS OF OCTOBER 2026
Individual Support
* IN MEMORIAM
THAN K YOU
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Mr. Winthrop Quigley & Ms. Bonnie Crusalis Dr. Isobel Rutherford David M. & Betty Schneider Robert W. Scully (Miami) Dr. & Mrs. James L. Sechler Meredith M. Seikel Hewitt & Paula Shaw Roy Smith F. William & Patricia Steere Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Stovsky Alan & Barbara Taylor Bruce & Virginia Taylor Philip & Sarah* Taylor Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Umdasch (Europe) Mr. Daniel & Mrs. Molly Walsh Mr. & Mrs. Jeffery J. Weaver Robert C. Weppler Sandy* & Ted Wiese Katie & Donald Woodcock Max & Beverly Zupon Anonymous (3) Frank H. Ginn Society Gifts of $10,000 to $14,999 Dr. & Mrs. D. P. Agamanolis Mr. James Babcock Dr. James Bates Mr. & Mrs.* Eugene J. Beer Deena & Jeff Bellman Carol Bergman Laura & Jon Bloomberg Dale & Wendy Brott Laurie & Larry Brown Ms. Deborah R. Bryan Catharina Meints Caldwell Dr. & Mrs. William D. Carey Ms. Maria Cashy & Ms. Laura Cashy Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Chuhna Ellen E.* & Victor J. Cohn Marjorie Dickard Comella Mrs. Anita Cosgrove Mr. & Mrs. Chester F. Crone Mr. & Mrs. Manohar Daga Ronald J. Davis & Cheryl A. Davis Allan* & Connie Dechert Gregory Dobbins Michael Dunn Brian & Renae Durdle Tamara Durn Dr. & Mrs. Robert Ehrlich (Europe) Dr.* & Mrs. Lloyd H. Ellis Jr. Dagmar & Ted Fellowes Bruce* & Nancy Fisher Friends of The Cleveland Orchestra Dr. Edward S. Godleski André & Ginette Gremillet Mr. & Mrs. Michael Gröller (Europe) Candy & Brent Grover Mr. Arthur C. Hall III George Hanley (Miami) Gary Hanson & Barbara Klante
Dr. Robert T. Heath & Dr. Elizabeth L. Buchanan Dr. Fred A. Heupler Ms. Mary Joe Hughes Donald* & Joyce Ignatz Mr. Fredrick Immormino Donna & Robert* Jackson Richard & Jayne Janus Robert & Linda Jenkins Barbara & Michael J. Kaplan Dr. Ronald H. Krasney & Vicki Kennedy* Ms. Elizabeth A. Krew David C. Lamb Michael Lederman & Sharmon Sollitto Dr. Edith Lerner Nancy F. Lerner Judith & Morton Q . Levin Ms. Jane Mattlin Dr. & Mrs. Stephen McClure Drs. Amy & James Merlino Claudia Metz & Thomas Woodworth Mr. Bert & Dr. Marjorie Moyar Brian & Cindy Murphy Patricia Perry Nock William & Alyce Norman Mark & Paula Nylander Mr. & Mrs. John Olejko Dr. Roland S. Philip & Dr. Linda M. Sandhaus Julia & Larry Pollock Beth & Clay Rankin David J. Reimer & Raffaele DiLallo Amy & Ken Rogat Kim Russel & Dirk Brom Dr. & Mrs.* Martin I. Saltzman Richard B. & Cheryl A. Schmitz Ms. Beverly J. Schneider John* & Barbara Schubert Gary Schwartz & Constance Young Kenneth Shafer Mr. John F. Shelley & Ms. Karen P. Fleming Howard & Beth Simon Rev. George Smiga Sandra & Richey* Smith Taras Szmagala & Helen Jarem Brian & Elizabeth Tierney Joe & Marlene Toot Mr. Christopher Towe Rich & Karen Turgeon Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Ungier Dr. Gregory Videtic & Rev. Christopher McCann Karen Walburn Susanne Wamsler & Paul Singer (Europe) Jessica & James Warren Mr. & Mrs.* Fred A. Watkins Greg & Lynn Weekley Anonymous (9)
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James & Virginia Meil Dr. Susan M. Merzweiler Mary Ellen Miller Lynn & Mike Miller Drs. Terry E.* & Sara S. Miller Roy Minoff Ms. Nancy C. Morgan Amy & Marc Morgenstern Elizabeth Morris Eudice M. Morse Mr. Raymond M. Murphy Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Myers Andrea Nobil (Miami) Richard & Kathleen Nord Mr. & Mrs. Forrest A. Norman III Courtney & Michael Novak Thury O’Connor Ms. Kathleen Ode Peter & Sue Osenar Mr. Henry Ott-Hansen Chris & Susan Pappas (Miami) John Perko Dale & Susan Phillip Dr. Marc A. & Mrs. Carol Pohl Dr. & Mrs. John N. Posch Mr. Robert & Mrs. Susan Price Sylvia Profenna Pysht Fund Lute & Lynn Quintrell Dr. James & Lynne Rambasek Elizabeth & Robert J. Reid Mickey & Angie Remen Mrs. Vicki Ann Resnick Mrs. Georgianna T. Roberts Lisa Robinson & Robert Hansel Robert* & Margo Roth Ms. Kathy E. Ruekberg Dr. Vernon E. Sackman & Ms. Marguerite Patton* Mr. & Mrs. Lowell Satre Sandra Sauder & Jack Brunner Bob & Ellie Scheuer Sally & Larry Sears John Sedor & Geri Presti Deborah Sesek Katie & Michael* Shames Mr. Philip & Mrs. Michelle Sharp Mr. Michael R. Shaughnessy Elizabeth & Timothy Sheeler Robyn Shifrin Zachary & Shelby Siegal The Shari Bierman Singer Family Drs. Charles Kent Smith & Patricia Moore Smith Mrs. Gretchen D. Smith Mr. & Mrs. William E. Spatz Diane M. Stack Maribeth & Christopher Stahl George & Mary* Stark Sue Starrett & Jerry Smith Mr. Marc L. Swartzbaugh Mr. Robert D. Sweet Ms. Lorraine S. Szabo
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Mr. James Graham & Mr. David Dusek Mr. Lou Grasso Nancy Hancock Griffith Nancy* & James Grunzweig Andrea Guerreri (Miami) Mr. Newman T. Halvorson, Jr. Mr.* & Mrs. David P. Handke, Jr. Clark Harvey & Holly Selvaggi Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Hatch Barbara L. Hawley & David S. Goodman Matthew D. Healy & Richard S. Agnes Anita & William Heller Malcolm & Vivian Henoch Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Herschman Mr. & Mrs. Martin R. Hoke Dr. Keith A. & Mrs. Kathleen M. Hoover James* & Claudia Hower Elisabeth Hugh David & Dianne Hunt Ms. Kimberly R. Irish Rudy Ivancic Mr. David* & Mrs. Cheryl Jerome Karmendot Fund Andrew & Katherine Kartalis Rod Keen & Denise Horstman Joanne Kim & Jim Nash Dr. Shuzo Kobayashi Douglas & Monica Kridler Peter* & Cathy Kuhn Dr. Jeanne Lackamp Mr. & Mrs. Arthur J. Lafave, Jr.* Dr. & Mrs. John R. Lane Kenneth M. Lapine John N.* & Edith K. Lauer Charles & Josephine Robson Leamy* Joan & Young Sei Lee William & Virginia Lennon Mr. & Mrs. Roger J. Lerch in Memory of Carl J. & Winifred J. Lerch Dr. Stephen B. & Mrs. Lillian S. Levine Dr. Alan & Mrs. Joni Lichtin Dr. & Mrs. Jack Lissauer Drs. Todd & Susan Locke Logsdon Family Foundation Joan C. Long Caetano R. Lopes (Miami) Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Lopez-Cantera (Miami) Neil & Susan Luria Peter & Pamela Luria (Miami) Diann & Tom Mann Mr. Ryan T. Marrie Mr. David C. McAlister Mr. & Mrs. Christopher J. McKenna Mr. & Mrs. Sandy McMillan Ms. Nancy L. Meacham Dr. & Mrs. Kevin Meany Dr.* & Mrs. Dale Meers
LISTING AS OF OCTOBER 2026
The 1929 Society Gifts of $5,000 to $9,999 Ms. Nancy A. Adams Gabrielle Aryeetey Claudia Bacon Ms. Bonnie M. Baker Robert & Dalia Baker Thomas & Laura Barnard Fred G. & Mary W. Behm Marilyn & Jeffrey Bilsky Dr. & Mrs. Eugene H. Blackstone Barbara Blossom Laurel Blossom Jeff & Elaine Bomberger Whitney Bower (Miami) Elizabeth & Christopher Brauser (Miami) Adam & Vikki Briggs Mr. & Mrs. David* Briggs James & Mary Bright Sandy Brinn Bennett Brown Mrs. Frances Buchholzer Frank & Leslie Buck Mr. Gregory & Mrs. Susan Bulone Kim & Kenneth Burkins Mr. & Mrs. William D. Buss II Michael & Linda Busta Michael & Mary Carpenter (Miami) William & Barbara Carson Victor A. Ceicys MD & Mrs. Kathleen Browning Ceicys Mr. & Mrs. James B. Chaney Reneé & Kerry Chelm Ellen Chesler & Matthew Mallow (Miami) Dr. Gary Chottiner & Anne Poirson Drs. Wuu-Shung & Amy Chuang Drs. Mark Cohen & Miriam Vishny Diane Lynn Collier & Robert J. Gura Dr. Dale & Susan Cowan Mr.* & Mrs. Ralph Daugstrup Pete & Margaret Dobbins Carl Dodge Ms. Mary Lynn Durham Mr. & Mrs. Ronald E. Dziedzicki Regis & Gayle Falinski Michelle Fay Mr. William & Dr. Elizabeth Fesler Mr. & Mrs. Mark Filippell Jan & John Fitts Ms. Nancy Flogge Mr. & Ms. Dale Freygang Brian Gale & Elle Carolan Barbara & Peter* Galvin Joy E. Garapic Anne* & Walter Ginn Daniel & Kathleen Gisser Brenda & David Goldberg Mrs. Florence Goodman Barbara H. Gordon Harry & Joyce Graham
* IN MEMORIAM
THAN K YOU
clevelandorchestra.com/give
Robert & Carol Taller Eca & Richard Taylor Dr. James Taylor & Ms. Susan Slugg Caroline Theus Mr. John R. Thorne & Family Bill & Jacky Thornton Mr. & Mrs. Gary B. Tishkoff Dr. & Mrs. James E. Triner Mr.* & Mrs. Robert N. Trombly Dr. & Mrs. Michael B. Troner (Miami) Steve & Christa Turnbull Dr. & Mrs. Wulf H. Utian Robert & Marti* Vagi Mr. & Mrs. Steven M. Venezia Teresa Galang-Viñas & Joaquin Viñas (Miami) Mr. & Mrs. Les C. Vinney George & Barbara von Mehren Randall E. Wagner Ron Wakser John & Jeanette Walton Tilles-Weidenthal Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Mark Allen Weigand Mr. Peter & Mrs. Laurie Weinberger Paul & Nancy Wellener Dr. Edward L. & Mrs. Suzanne* Westbrook Dr. Paul R. & Catherine Williams Ms. Linda L. Wilmot Bob & Kat Wollyung Mr. Graham Wood Mr. Kal Zucker & Dr. Mary Frances Haerr Anonymous (4) Composer’s Circle Gifts of $2,500 to $4,999 Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Abbey Mr. Leonard H. Abrams* David & Sharon Anderson Sarah May Anderson Jack & Darby Ashelman Ronen & Susan Avinir (Miami) Brian Balogh & Kathy Craig Mr. Richard H. Bamberger Ms. Carol Barnak Ms. Kimberley Barton Lucy Battle Kathryn & Gerald Berkshire Margo & Tom Bertin Mr. & Mrs. Charles Bittenbender Zeda W. Blau Marilyn & Lawrence Blaustein Peter Blazunas Ms. Pamela M. Blemaster Blossom Friends of The Cleveland Orchestra Mr. John & Mrs. Robyn Boebinger Dr. & Mrs. Timothy Bohn Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Bole Mitchell & Caroline Borrow David & Julie Borsani, in memory of Marissa I. Borsani
clevelandorchestra.com
Ms. Ellen Botnick Lisa & Ronald Boyko Matthew D. Brocone Mr. & Mrs. Dale R. Brogan Mr. & Mrs. Barrett Brown Mrs. Nancy E. Brown Mr. Felix Brueck & Ms. Ann Kowal Smith William Busta & Joan Tomkins Robert & Beverly Cameron Dr. & Mrs. William E. Cappaert Mrs. Tana N. Carney Dr. Jeffrey Chaitoff & Ms. Margo Vinney Dr. Ronald Chapnick* & Mrs. Sonia Chapnick Gregory & Kathrine Chemnitz Natalie Cipriano Robert & Judy Ciulla Pete Clapham & Anita Stoll Mr. & Mrs. David Clark Jill & Paul Clark Richard J. & Joanne Clark Drs. John* & Mary Clough Ms. NancyBell Coe Christopher Colaluca Jeffrey Cole & Trisha O’Brien (Miami) William & Ruth Coleman Mr. & Mrs. Robert Conrad Jim & Mary Conway Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Cook The Honorable Colleen Conway Cooney & Mr. John Cooney Mr. Ed Covington Jane Cronin John Cunningham Dr. Lucy Ann Dahlberg Karen & Jim Dakin Mrs. Jane Dangler Dr. & Mrs. Thomas M. Daniel Carol Darnall (Miami) Karen & Neil Davies Gary Davis & Jane Cooper Jeffrey Dean and Barbara and Karen Claas Prof. George & Mrs. Rebecca Dent Michael & Amy Diamant Dr. & Mrs. Howard Dickey-White Ms. Marlene Dirksen Mr. & Mrs. David E. Dix Jack & Elaine Drage Mrs. Rhonda Drakulich Mr. & Mrs. Robert Dreshfield Ms. Barbara Dunaway S. Stuart Eilers Peter & Kathryn Eloff Louis* & Patricia Esposito Andy & Leigh Fabens Anne Ferguson & Peter Drench Holly Fluty Dempsey Mr. Jonathon R. Forman Mr. & Mrs. Turney P. Berry
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Frankel Howard Freedman & Rita Montlack Marvin Ross Friedman & Adrienne bon Haes (Miami) Peggy A. Fullmer The Fung Family Timothy & Susan Gall Mr. Stephen H. Gariepy & Ms. Nancy Sin Pamela Garrison (Miami) Mr. William Gaskill & Ms. Kathleen Burke Mr. & Mrs. M. Lee Gibson Edward & Delphenia Gilbert Holly & Fred Glock Dr.* & Mrs. Victor M. Goldberg Enrique Gomez (Miami) Agnes Tartara Goss Mr. Robert Goss Dr. & Mrs. Ronald L. Gould Bob Graf & Mia Zaper Robert K. Gudbranson & Joon-Li Kim Mr. & Mrs. John E. Guinness Mr. Davin & Mrs. Jo Ann Gustafson Mr. Ian S. Haberman Mary Louise Hahn Dr. James O. Hall Megan Hall & James Janning John Hannon Dr. Jared Harp Mr. Samuel D. Harris Lilli & Seth* Harris Thomas & Darlene Hawkins Dr. Toby Helfand In Memory of Hazel Helgesen Drs. Gene & Sharon Henderson T. K.* & Faye A. Heston Eric & Karen Hillenbrand Richard & Jean Hipple Arnold & Janice Hirshon Mr. & Mrs. Stephen J. Holler Charles M. Hoppel & Marianne Karwowski Hoppel Xavier-Nichols Foundation/ Robert & Karen Hostoffer Phillip Huber Phillip M. Hudson III (Miami) Mrs. Laura Hunsicker Mr.* & Mrs. J. David Hunter Ms. Melanie Ingalls Dr. & Mrs. Paul C. Janicki Helen & Erik Jensen Dylan Jin Mr. Jeremy V. Johnson Eric & Susan Johnson Joela Jones & Richard Weiss Steven Jones Dr. Eric Kaler Mr. David G. Kanzeg Mr. Donald J. Katt & Mrs. Maribeth Filipic-Katt Dr. Richard* & Roberta Katzman
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48 | 2026/2027 SEASON
Mr. James S. Simon Dr. Anne & Mr. Jay Singer Harry & Geri Singer Dr. Edward & Mrs. Barbara Sivak G. Michael & Kathy* Mead Skerritt Bruce L. Smith David Kane Smith Mr. Joshua Smith Mr. Eugene Smolik Mrs. Linda C. Smythe Drs. Nancy & Ronald Sobecks Drs. Thomas & Terry Sosnowski SPÄNGLER PRIVATSTIFTUNG Mr. David M. Spencer Mr. Michael Star Edward R. & Jean Geis Stell Foundation Ronald & Lauren Sterbank Janet Stern Nancy Stillwagon & Jon Stein AJ & Nancy Stokes Frederick & Elizabeth Stueber Mr. & Mrs. John* K. Sullivan Nancy & Patrick Sullivan Mike & Wendy Summers Mr. & Mrs. Michael Taipale Rebecca & Jeffrey Talbert Dennis J Taylor Mr. Robert Taylor Ms. Aileen Thong-Dratler Dr. & Mrs. Thomas* A. Timko Ms. Christeen Tuttle Koen van Besien & Ok-Kyong Chaekal Dr. Doug Van Auken & Mr. John Corlett Michael & Jaclyn Vary W. Joseph Vogel Sarah & Jim Vosmik Neha & Sanjay Vyas Mr. & Mrs. Eric Wald Ms. Lois Walters Harriet Warm Margaret & Eric* Wayne Edward & Ellen Weber Mr. Paul Wehrmeister Marilyn Wells Emily Westlake & Robertson Gilliland Mr. Peter White Mr. & Mrs. John W. Wilhelm John & Nancy Woelfl Dale & Cynthia Woodling Ladonna Woods Ms. Jennifer Wynn Rad & Patty Yates Ellen Zegarra Dr. Rosemary Gornik & Dr. William Zelei John & Jane Zuzek Anonymous (12)
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Joan Katz Napoli & August Napoli Dr. Anne & Mr. Peter Neff Karen Nemec Richard & Jolene O’Callaghan Robert & Mary Ann Olive Harvey* & Robin Oppmann Richard* & Elizabeth Osborne Dr. Kata & Mr. Len Pagon George Parras & Mary Spencer Drs. James & Marian Patterson Dr. Lewis E. & Janice B. Patterson David Pavlich & Cherie Arnold Matt Peart Alan & Charlene Perkins Robert S. Perry Mark & Eve Pihl Barbara Pittman Mr. Richard W. Pogue Mr. & Mrs. Frank Porter Patrick J. Holland Drs. Raymond R. Rackley & Carmen M. Fonseca Dr. Robert W. Reynolds Michael & Lydia Ridenour Mr. D. Keith* & Mrs. Margaret B. Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Jay F. Rockman Michael & Jodi Rogoff David & Mitsuko Rosinus (Miami) Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Ross Drs. Edward & Teresa Ruch Mr. & Mrs. Paul L. Rupert Nathan & Marie Rutherford Mr. & Mrs. Peter J. Ryerson Otmar & Rotraud Sackerlotzky Richard & Mary Lou Sanders Scott Savage & Denise Ruthenburg Ms. Patricia E. Say Bryan & Jenna Scafidi Mr. John Schambach Don Schmitt & Jim Harmon Michael Schneidler Mr. Don Schriver & Mrs. Jane Schriver Mr. James Schutte Nicklaus Schwenk Paul Secunde Ms. Kathryn & Mr. Michael Seider Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Selden Dr. Judith Sewell & Mr. Donald Sewell Donald Shafer & Katherine Stokes-Shafer Steve & Marybeth Shamrock Ginger & Larry Shane Harry* & Ilene Shapiro Ms. Frances L. Sharp Larry Oscar & Jeanne Shatten Charitable Fund of the Jewish Federation Lynn Shaw Mr. Richard Shirey Jim Simler & Dr. Amy Zhang
LISTING AS OF OCTOBER 2026
The Kendis Family Trust: Hilary & Robert Kendis and Susan & James Kendis Mr. Thomas Kinsey & Ms. Lynn Slifer Mrs. Judith A. Kirsh Steve & Beth Kish Mr. & Mrs. Stuart F. Kline Mr. Ronald & Mrs. Kimberly Kolz Drs. Jill Korbin & Lawrence Greksa Ursula Korneitchouk Dr. & Mrs. John P. Kristofco Mr. Andrew Kurman & Ms. Sharon Shapiro Mr. & Mrs. David S. Kushner Alfred & Carol Lambo Mr.* & Mrs. Robert J. Landgraf Mr. & Mrs. John J. Lane, Jr. Dr.* & Mrs. Roger H. Langston Mrs. Susan D. LaPine Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Larrabee Mrs. Sandra S. Laurenson Mr. & Mrs. Michael Lavelle Richard & Barbara Lederman Mr. Elliot & Mrs. Christine Legow Michael & Lois Lemr Robert G. Levy Mr. & Mrs.* Thomas A. Liederbach Eva & Rudolf Linnebach Mr. Henry Lipian Dr. George I. Litman Mary Lohman Virginia Lovejoy Linda* & Saul Ludwig Elsie* & Byron Lutman Dr. Kalle J. Lyytinen Janet A. Mann Herbert L. & Ronda Marcus Dr.* & Mrs. Sanford E. Marovitz Ms. Dorene Marsh Mr. John R. Martin Kevin Martin & Hansa Jacob-Martin Ms. Judith E. Matsko Mark & Barbara Mazzone Bruce & Karen McDiarmid Mr. & Mrs. Thomas B. McGowan Mr. James E. Menger Mrs. Nathaniel C. Merritt-Mervine Dr. Miloslava Mervart & Dr. Terence Kilroy Mr. & Mrs. Gerald A. Messerman Mr. Glenn A. Metzdorf Mr. Stephen P. Metzler Beth M. Mikes Amy Miller & Nikhil Rao Mr. & Mrs. David S. Miller Dr. & Mrs. Leon Miller Mr. Tom Millward Anton & Laura Milo Michael Milo MindCrafted Systems Patti & Hadley Morgenstern-Clarren Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Morris Karen & Bernie Murray
* IN MEMORIAM
THAN K YOU
clevelandorchestra.com/give
Thank You, Franz Donations to the Franz Welser-Möst Legacy Fund honor Franz’s lasting impact on The Cleveland Orchestra. This fund sustains the artistic priorities that have defined his tenure — especially his commitment to opera and vocal music — while supporting key initiatives in his final season and beyond. Our sincerest thanks to donors who have ensured Franz’s vision continues to shape the Orchestra’s future on the global stage. To learn more, visit clevelandorchestra.com/gratitude Audrey & Albert Ratner Ms. Cathy Lincoln Mr. & Mrs.* Richard K. Smucker Mary E. & F. Joseph Callahan Foundation Kulas Foundation Jan R. Lewis Alan Markowitz M.D. & Cathy Pollard John P. Murphy Foundation Valerie Dillon & Daniel R. Lewis Paul & Suzanne Westlake Joanne & Blake Avenmarg Mr. & Mrs. Jules Belkin Ms. Alexandra Hanna Mr. Jeff Litwiller Richard & Janet Wile Ms. Maria Cashy & Ms. Laura Cashy Richard C. & Lisa Fedorovich David & Nancy Hooker Ms. Nancy A. Adams S. Ernest & Patricia Kulp Robert S. Perry
Mr.* & Mrs. Robert N. Trombly Drs. Todd & Susan Locke Philip Star & Jane Peterson Linda Cekada Mr. & Mrs. Byron Jackson Mr. John H. Forsgren Ms. Nancy L. Meacham Samuel & Leigh Ann Kerns Florin Muscutariu Patricia Biesiadny Atsuro Negishi Leo & Beth Hyland Michelle Epps Mr. Ihor Kowalysko Mr. Darryl Russ Elizabeth Sullivan Megan Hall & James Janning Mr. & Mrs. Lauren R. Pacini Mr. Stuart H. Theis Eugene Colombo Mrs. Eloise A. Coxe Gabriel & Roxana Stanescu Dr.* & Mrs. Sanford E. Marovitz B.F. St. Angelo Dr. Ruth Gurd Helen Popritkin Carrie Goga
Mr. & Mrs.* Russell J. Warren Nathan Hensley Samuel & Eva Horwitz Ms. Marianne Brager Susan Halamek Mrs. Barbara Coy Sandra DaMert Ms. Susan E. Burke Lauri Stevenson James Braun Michael LaMalfa Patrick Giuffrida Ann M. Cassidy Anonymous
This institution carries a tremendous legacy, thanks to the steadfast support of music lovers like you. It is my great honor to share in that legacy. — Franz Welser-Möst, TCO Music Director
clevelandorchestra.com
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THAN K YOU
Corporate, Foundation & Government Support The Cleveland Orchestra extends heartfelt gratitude to these generous organizations and partners who bring concerts and educational programs to life for our community. Learn more at clevelandorchestra.com/partners
Gifts of $100,000 to $199,999 Akron Children’s KeyBank Quality Electrodynamics White & Case (Miami) Gifts of $50,000 to $99,999 Dealer Tire LLC FirstEnergy Foundation NOPEC Parker Hannifin Foundation PNC Thompson Hine LLP Gifts of $15,000 to $49,999 Acme Fresh Market Foundation BakerHostetler BlueBridge Buyers Products Company Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP DLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky Frantz Ward LLP Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The Giant Eagle Foundation Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Lake Effect Health Miba AG (Europe) Northern Haserot Olympic Steel, Inc. Park-Ohio Holdings RPM International Inc. RSM US LLP Westfield Anonymous
50 | 2026/2027 SEASON
FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT Gifts of $1,000,000 & more The William Bingham Foundation The Brown and Kunze Foundation Mary E. & F. Joseph Callahan Foundation The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation David and Inez Myers Foundation The Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund State of Ohio The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Richard & Emily Smucker Family Foundation Gifts of $500,000 to $999,999 Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Ohio Arts Council The Payne Fund Anonymous
Gifts of $100,000 to $249,999 Paul M. Angell Family Foundation Wesley Family Foundation Anonymous Gifts of $50,000 to $99,999 The George W. Codrington Charitable Foundation The Jean, Harry and Brenda Fuchs Family Foundation, in memory of Harry Fuchs GAR Foundation The George Gund Foundation William Randolph Hearst Foundation Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Myra Tuteur Kahn Memorial Fund of the Cleveland Foundation
Gifts of $15,000 to $49,999 The Abington Foundation Akron Community Foundation The Batchelor Foundation, Inc. (Miami) The Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation Mary and Dr. George L. Demetros Charitable Trust The Sam J. Frankino Foundation Dawn M. Full Revocable Trust The Gerhard Foundation, Inc. The Helen Wade Greene Charitable Trust The Catherine L. & Edward A. Lozick Foundation The Nord Family Foundation Edwin D. Northrup II Fund The Reinberger Foundation SCH Foundation Albert G. & Olive H. Schlink Foundation The Sisler McFawn Foundation The Veale Foundation The George Garretson Wade Charitable Trust The Thomas H. White Foundation, a KeyBank Trust Anonymous
* IN MEMORIAM
Gifts of $200,000 to $299,999 Jones Day Foundation The J. M. Smucker Co.
Gifts of $250,000 to $499,999 Kulas Foundation John P. Murphy Foundation The Dr. M. Lee Pearce Foundation, Inc. (Miami)
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Gifts of $300,000 & more The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Hyster-Yale, Inc. NACCO Industries, Inc.
Gifts of $2,500 to $14,999 Blue Technologies, Inc. BNY Wealth Brothers Printing Company The Cedarwood Companies The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation Evarts Tremaine GPD Foundation GPD Group Gross Residential Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP Kohrman Jackson & Krantz, LLP Nordson Corporation Foundation Northern Trust Sikich Something’s Popping Ver Ploeg & Marino (Miami) Warby Parker Welty Enterprises Winslow Assets
LISTING AS OF OCTOBER 2026
CORPORATE SUPPORT
clevelandorchestra.com/give
Gifts of $2,500 to $14,999 The Ruth and Elmer Babin Foundation The Bernheimer Family Fund of the Cleveland Foundation The Cowles Charitable Trust (Miami) James Deering Danielson Foundation Dorn Family Foundation Fisher-Renkert Foundation The Harry K. Fox and Emma R. Fox Charitable Foundation The Hankins Foundation George M. and Pamela S. Humphrey Fund The Kirk Foundation (Miami) The Laub Foundation The Lehner Family Foundation The Fred A. Lennon Charitable Trust The G. R. Lincoln Family Foundation Elizabeth Ring Mather and William Gwinn Mather Fund With the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners The M. G. O’Neil Foundation The O’Neill Brothers Foundation Ophthalmology Education Worldwide Paintstone Foundation The Perkins Charitable Foundation Charles E. & Mabel M. Ritchie Memorial Foundation Lloyd L. and Louise K. Smith Memorial Foundation The South Waite Foundation Third Federal Foundation Uvas Foundation The Welty Family Foundation The Edward and Ruth Wilkof Foundation The Wulwiger Foundation Anonymous
clevelandorchestra.com
The Cleveland Orchestra Board of Trustees O FFI CERS Richard J. Kramer Chair David J. Hooker Secretary Victor Alexander Treasurer André Gremillet President & CEO, The Richard K. Smucker Chair Richard K. Smucker Immediate Past Chair Richard J. Bogomolny Chair Emeritus Dennis W. LaBarre Chair Emeritus Norma Lerner Honorary Chair RESI DE N T TRUSTEES Victor Alexander Robin Dunn Blossom Yuval Brisker Helen Rankin Butler Nancy Slocum Callahan Irad Carmi Bill Clawson Matthew V. Crawford Lisa Fedorovich Michael Frank, MD JD Hiroyuki Fujita Robert Glick Arthur C. Hall III Iris Harvie Dee Haslam Stephen H. Hoffman David J. Hooker Michelle Shan Jeschelnig Sarah Liotta Johnston Elizabeth B. Juliano Nancy F. Keithley Douglas A. Kern John D. Koch Richard J. Kramer Dennis W. LaBarre Heather Lennox Cathy Lincoln Robert W. Malone Ben Mathews Nancy W. McCann Stephen McHale Scott C. Mueller Katherine T. O’Neill Hyun Park Alfred M. Rankin, Jr. Zoya Reyzis
Richard K. Smucker James C. Spira R. Thomas Stanton Richard Stovsky Russell A. Trusso Robert Walker Daniel P. Walsh Thomas A. Waltermire Jes Warren Jeffery J. Weaver Anya Weaving Meredith Smith Weil Paul E. Westlake Jr. David A. Wolfort Anthony Wynshaw-Boris N ATI ON AL TRUSTEES Virginia Nord Barbato (NY) Mary Jo Eaton (FL) Christina A. Gold (FL) Michael J. Horvitz (FL) Thomas E Lauria (FL) Loretta Mester (PA) Benjamin N. Pyne (NY) Geraldine B. Warner (OH) Tony White (OH) I N TERN ATIO N AL TRUSTEES Wolfgang C. Berndt (Austria) Herbert Kloiber (Germany) E X-O FFI CI O TRUSTEES André Gremillet Todd Diacon Denise Horstman Sarah Hutchins Eric Kaler Beverly J. Schneider H O N OR ARY TRUSTEES FO R LIFE Richard J. Bogomolny Charles P. Bolton Robert D. Conrad Alexander M. Cutler Richard C. Gridley Norma Lerner Alex Machaskee Robert P. Madison Milton S. Maltz Beth E. Mooney Audrey Gilbert Ratner Charles A. Ratner Hewitt B. Shaw Luci Schey Spring
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YOU R V IS IT LATE SEATING As a courtesy to audience members and musicians, late-arriving patrons are asked to wait quietly until the first convenient break in the program. These seating breaks are at the discretion of the House Manager in consultation with the performing artists.
CELL PHONES, WATCHES & OTHER DEVICES To ensure a quiet and respectful listening environment, please silence all electronic devices.
PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEOGRAPHY & RECORDING Audio recording, photography, and videography are not allowed during performances at Severance. Photographs can only be taken when the performance is not in progress.
HEARING AIDS & OTHER HEALTH-ASSISTIVE DEVICES In consideration of others, please reduce the volume on hearing aids and other health-assistive devices that may produce noise. For Infrared Assistive-Listening Devices, please see an usher. To request one in advance, email info@cleveland orchestra.com.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY Contact an usher or a member of house staff if you require medical assistance. Emergency exits are clearly marked throughout the building. Ushers and house staff will provide instructions in the event of an emergency.
AGE GUIDELINES Regardless of age, each person must have a ticket and be able to sit quietly in a seat throughout the
THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA APP Official Mobile App of TCO Explore upcoming concerts, purchase and access your tickets, receive performance updates, and more. For more information and direct links to download, visit
clevelandorchestra.com/app
performance. Classical Season subscription concerts are not recommended for children under 8. However, there are several ageappropriate series designed specifically for children and youth, including Music Explorers (ages 3 to 6) and Family Concerts (ages 7 and older).
FOOD & MERCHANDISE Beverages and snacks are available at bars throughout the building and in the Lounge at Severance. Only bottled water is permitted in the hall. For Cleveland Orchestra apparel, recordings, and gift items, visit the Welcome Center.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE We are so glad you joined us! Want to share about your time at Severance? Send your feedback to cx@clevelandorchestra.com. Hearing directly from you will help us create the best experience possible.
The Cleveland Orchestra is grateful to the following organizations for their ongoing generous support of The Cleveland Orchestra: the State of Ohio and Ohio Arts Council and to the residents of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.
The Cleveland Orchestra is proud of its long-term partnership with Kent State University, made possible in part through generous funding from the State of Ohio. The Cleveland Orchestra is proud to have its home, Severance Music Center, located on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, with whom it has a long history of collaboration and partnership.
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©2026 The Cleveland Orchestra and the Musical Arts Association
Available for iOS and Android on Google Play and at the Apple App Store.
Program books for Cleveland Orchestra concerts are produced by The Cleveland Orchestra and are distributed free to attending audience members. EDI TORI AL
Kevin McBrien, Editorial & Publications Manager, The Cleveland Orchestra kmcbrien@clevelandorchestra.com
Cleveland Orchestra performances are broadcast as part of regular programming on ideastream/WCLV Classical 90.3 FM, Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 4 PM.
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52 | 2026/2027 SEASON
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